The many benefits of celery juice.  And why you should drink it A.S.A.P :)  

People love munching on celery (but you don't alway hear about celery juice).  It’s one of the staples of holiday vegetable plates and dieters appreciate its low-calorie crunchiness.  With its high water content, it’s terrific for hydrating your body.  Because of its alkalizing properties, it helps maintain a healthy body pH, promoting overall health and well-being.  In fact, this vegetable has been used since ancient times as a medicinal to treat various health conditions.  But most important of all, much of the plant is literally packed with beneficial nutrients.

Celery's nutritional profile

The leaves and the stems/stalks of celery contain important nutrients.  Celery leaves, for example, are a good source of vitamin A.  The stems are rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, essential amino acids, phytohormones and organic salt (more on that later).  More specifically, the stalks contain the following vitamins and minerals:

• Vitamins B1, B2, B5, B6, folic acid (a water-soluble form of vitamin B9), vitamin C and vitamin K.
• Potassium, calcium, iron, molybdenum, manganese, magnesium, iron, phosphorous and sodium.

The sodium in celery is in a much different, more beneficial form than the sodium in ordinary table salt.  Table salt is an inorganic compound, and ingesting too much of it can lead to a variety of health issues, including cardiovascular conditions.  In contrast, the organic sodium actually allows the body to absorb and use dietary nutrients more efficiently and effectively.

Other benefits 

This juice has multiple health benefits and should be included in everyone’s daily juicing regimen.  Juicing celery preserves all of its natural goodness (and unlocks some of it), but makes it much easier to get larger quantities of the nutrients into your body.  It yields a nice amount of juice, and the organic sodium gives it a pleasingly salty flavor. 

Without getting too technical, here’s a quick summary of some of the many health benefits of delicious, refreshing drink:

• Anti-Carcinogenic Properties.

This juice contains at least eight types of compounds which have anti-carcinogenic properties.  Some of these substances have been shown to halt the growth of cancer cells and prevent them. from spreading.  Others seem to block certain hormones (prostaglandins) that tend to encourage cancer cell growth.  Still others help prevent free radicals in the body from damaging healthy cells.  The risk of colon and stomach cancer, in particular, might be reduced by drinking celery juice.

• Cardiovascular Benefits.

Butyl phthalide, one of the many beneficial compounds in celery juice, might help lower LDL cholesterol (this is the bad type of cholesterol; HDL is the good type).  Celery juice also promotes the secretion of bile acid – a substance which helps the body eliminate cholesterol.  Plus, this juice has other cardiovascular benefits beyond those directly related to blood cholesterol levels.  For example, it can help lower high blood pressure in not one but two ways:  by relaxing the muscles in and around the arterial walls (the resulting vasodilation creates more room for blood to flow and allows it to flow at a lower level of pressure); and by lowering stress hormone levels (stress hormones cause constriction of blood vessels, thereby raising the blood pressure).

• Antioxidant Benefits.

Rich in antioxidants, including but not limited to vitamin C, beta-carotene and manganese.  These antioxidants help to prevent the cellular damage that’s caused by free radicals. 

• Anti-Inflammatory Properties.

Research indicates that celery juice can help relieve various types of inflammation, including that seen with arthritis (both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis), gout, and asthma.  It also helps prevent inflammation along the interior of blood vessel walls, which is a contributing factor in the buildup of dangerous plaque.  There are even some studies which suggest that because they help reduce inflammation in the brain, certain compounds in celery juice might help to prevent and/or treat Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

•  Promotes a Healthier Digestive System; Relieves Constipation.

Certain nutrients locked inside celery’s fiber are released during the juicing process.  These nutrients act as a natural laxative and can help relieve constipation and bloating.  Celery juice may also help prevent inflammatory responses in the digestive system.  This, in turn, might help lower the risk of stomach ulcers.

• A Natural Sleep Aid.

Essential oils and minerals in celery juice can help calm the nerves and make it easier for insomniacs to fall asleep.

• Appetite Suppressant/Weight Loss Aid.

  Celery is high in fiber and low in calories, and so is celery juice.  Drinking it throughout the day will help you feel full and reduce cravings for fattening snacks.  You can drink as much celery juice as you want without worrying about gaining weight.

• Post-Workout Recovery and Rehydration.

Celery’s organic sodium, potassium and other electrolytes make it the perfect post-workout rehydration and recovery drink.  Its nutrients help replenish the electrolytes you lose while exercising, and the water in the juice effectively rehydrates your body.

 

This is just a partial list of the health benefits that have been attributed to celery and it's juice.  Because of its sodium and potassium content, celery juice also acts as a natural diuretic, helping the body eliminate excess fluids.  Some experts believe it can help dissolve and prevent urinary tract and gall bladder stones.  Others believe it acts as a natural aphrodisiac, but one that doesn’t come with the almost-irresistible urges that accompany some prescription medications.  This effect is probably due to three properties of celery juice:   it helps dilate blood vessels; it includes many of the vitamins and minerals that promote a healthy sex drive; and it contains phytohormones that act like pheromones.

Juice is the easiest and best way to get celery and all of its many nutrients and beneficial compounds into your system.  Most researchers think the benefits of celery juice accumulate over time rather than being a “quick fix.”  It’s much more effective if you drink it every day than every once in a while.  That’s why celery juice should be an important part of everyone’s daily juicing regimen.  You don’t have to drink it “straight,” either:  celery pairs well with almost any vegetable and several fruits.  A popular and very healthful combo juice can easily be created by juicing celery, apple, cucumber and carrot.

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